Photovoltaic or thin-film panels cost $0. While only lasting 14 to 17 years, they have a much higher heat tolerance than the other panels. You'll pay $4,200 to $6,000 to set up a 6 kW system. . Most homeowners spend between $12,600 and $33,376 to install a complete residential solar system in 2026, with the national average at $19,873 before incentives. Your actual cost depends on your home's energy needs, roof characteristics, location and other factors, all of which we'll break down in. . NLR analyzes the total costs associated with installing photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential rooftop, commercial rooftop, and utility-scale ground-mount systems. This work has grown to include cost models for solar-plus-storage systems. NLR's PV cost benchmarking work uses a bottom-up. . Average price of solar modules, expressed in US dollars per watt, adjusted for inflation. Data source: IRENA (2025); Nemet (2009); Farmer and Lafond (2016) – Learn more about this data Note: Costs are expressed in constant 2024 US$ per watt. 6kW solar system on your roof is $23,100, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $19,100 and $23,800. Prices vary widely based on factors like the size of the system you need, the quality of the equipment you choose, how you pay for your system, any add-ons you. .
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Where did photovoltaic cost data come from?
Photovoltaic cost data between 1975 and 2003 has been taken from Nemet (2009), between 2004 and 2009 from Farmer & Lafond (2016), and since 2010 from IRENA. Prices from Nemet (2009) and Farmer & Lafond (2016) have been converted to 2024 US$ using the US GDP deflator, to account for the effects of inflation.
What is PVWatts ®?
It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations. Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. PVWatts ® is a registered trademark by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC in Golden, CO, 80401.
Are polycrystalline photovoltaic panels better than monocrystalline?
Most residential installations use monocrystalline photovoltaics (PV) panels, which offer up to 24% efficiency and perform better in limited space and extreme temperatures. Polycrystalline panels are cheaper but less efficient (15% to 20%), making them better for homes with ample roof space.
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